Craven Arms & Rural LJC 2/2/11 3 CRAVEN ARMS & RURAL LOCAL JOINT COMMITTEE
NOTE OF DECISIONS AND ACTIONS STEMMING FROM THE MEETING HELD ON 30th SEPTEMBER 2010, 7.00 PM – 9.10 PM AT ONIBURY VILLAGE HALL
Responsible Officer: Julie Fildes Tel: 01584 838250 Email: Julie.fildes@shropshire.gov.uk
Committee Members Present:
Shropshire Council David Evans Church Stretton and Craven Arms ED James Gibson Church Stretton and Craven Arms ED Cecilia Motley (Chairman) Corvedale ED
Town/Parish Councils Peter Belamy Diddlebury Parish Council Carol Byng Culmington Parish Council David Clarke Hopesay Parish Council Buster Evans Munslow Parish Council RobinGatehouse StantonLacy Michael Hardingham Clee St Margaret Parish Council Virginia Hickman Onibury Parish Council Neville Stephens Craven Arms Town Council Alan Millhouse Wistanstow Parish Council Brian Norgrove Hopton Cangeford and Stoke St Milborough PC
Co-opted Member David Barclay Sibdon Carwood
Shropshire Council Officers present:
Kathryn Edwards Lead Officer Cheryl Williams Support Officer Peter Dunhill Community Working Officer Julie Fildes Committee Officer (Notes)
There were approximately 35 members of the public and representatives of other organisations present at the meeting.
Contact Julie Fildes, tel 01584 838250 13 Craven Arms & Rural LJC 2/2/11 3
ACTION 25. INTRODUCTIONS AND CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUCEMENT
The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting. Members noted that Agenda item 7; Community Safety Issues, would be brought forward on the agenda and taken after Agenda item 3.
26. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Andrew Pike of Culmington Parish Council (substitute - Councillor Carol Byng) and Clive LeWorthy (substitute – Councillor Neville Committee Stephens). Officer
27. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
The following declarations of personal and prejudicial interest were made:-
Personal Member Agenda Item Reason David Evans 4, Village Hall Member of Onibury Discussion Village Hall Committee Neville Stephens 10b, Funding Governor of Stokesay application from Primary School which SSEA benefits from the work of this charity.
Personal and Prejudicial Member Agenda Item Reason David Clarke 10b, Funding Member of SSEA application from SSEA Neville Stephens 10c, Funding A board member of application from South Shropshire Youthful Housing Association. Communities 10d, Funding application from Homegrown
28. NOTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING
RESOLVED:
that the notes of the meeting of the Craven Arms and Rural Local Joint Committee held on 15th July 2010 be approved and signed as a correct record by the Chairman. Chairman
Contact Julie Fildes, tel 01584 838250 14 Craven Arms & Rural LJC 2/2/11 3 ACTION 29. COMMUNITY SAFETY
Police Sergeant Nikki Roberts introduced herself as the Officer responsible for the Craven Arms, Church Stretton and Bishop’s Castle areas of South Shropshire.
Members noted that there had been a slight but not significant increase in overall levels of crime in the Craven Arms area. Sergeant Roberts commented that a single neighbourhood dispute had been solely responsible for an increase in reported incidents of criminal damage.
Sergeant Roberts informed Members that there had been a number of thefts from people using the Harry Tuffins supermarket in Craven Arms. In response to a question, Sergeant Roberts confirmed that this spate was confined to this one supermarket and it was suspected that the store was being targeted by an opportunist thief.
Members were reminded of the importance of ensuring that cars and outbuildings were secured and checked regularly, as there had been an increase in the theft of tools and items which could be sold as scrap metal. There was also evidence that a local car had been taken, used in a local bank robbery and returned to the owners drive, without the knowledge of the owner. Items found in the vehicle indicated that it had also been used for the storage of the stolen items.
In response to a Member’s question Sergeant Roberts stated that the Rural Watch scheme was working well, and had attracted a satisfactory number of members. The spate of livestock thefts which had occurred earlier in the season had ceased but the culprits had not been apprehended.
Sergeant Roberts reminded Members that should problems of antisocial behaviour continue in Craven Arms it was important that they be reported to the police to enable action to be taken.
30. VILLAGE HALL DISCUSSION
Ms Gill Porter was welcomed and introduced as the Community Buildings Development Officer for the Community Council of Shropshire. Members noted that it was part of her role to advise on the general management of village halls in Shropshire. Following an incident at a village hall in a neighbouring LJC area she had been invited to talk to Members about holding large events in village halls.
Contact Julie Fildes, tel 01584 838250 15 Craven Arms & Rural LJC 2/2/11 3 Ms Porter gave advice on the importance of written hire ACTION agreements which clearly set terms and conditions of hire, and the liabilities of each of the parties. She suggested using the Model Hiring Agreement available from Action with Communities in Rural England.
She recommended that village hall committees adopted the practice of knowing the hirers of their village hall and reserving the right through a term in the hire agreement to make inspections of the way in which the hall was being used. She gave examples where village halls had been used for immoral or criminal activities without the knowledge of the Trustees.
Members noted the importance of anticipating problems before they arose and the importance of early action. Ms Porter suggested that booking secretaries should be prepared to refuse or cancel bookings if there were concerns and the hiring agreement should contain clauses which supported this action. Even where problems where not anticipated she stressed the importance of the hirers knowing who to contact in an emergency, and she suggested having a designated committee member on call for the duration of the event. Also, having the full address including the postcode in a prominent place which could be given to emergency services if called.
Ms Porter advised that all village hall committees should have a set of agreed procedures and policies, which included detailed procedures for the taking of bookings and late bookings. She also suggested procedures for dealing with damage caused by hirers and a procedure setting out the actions to be taken in the event of a fatality. In response to a Member’s query she stated that to be enforceable and legal, policies and procedures required a clear rational, must be formally agreed by the Trustees and must be available to the users of the hall. She reminded Members that the Trustees were responsible for the safe management of the hall and must ensure that all fire safety and health and safety risk assessments had been completed and were up to date.
In response to a Member’s query about events involving young people, Ms Porter advised that booking clerks should consider the possible consequences of accepting these bookings. As with all bookings, steps could be taken to reduce the likelihood of problems at an event. It was possible for village hall committees to include a clause in the hiring agreement stipulating an adult to young person ratio, the requirement that the hirer provided door staff and the charging of a large returnable deposit which would cover the cost of repairs should these be necessary.
Ms Porter reminded Members that even without the sale of
Contact Julie Fildes, tel 01584 838250 16 Craven Arms & Rural LJC 2/2/11 3 alcohol the premises license could be at risk if the licensing ACTION authority considered that they did not uphold the four objectives of the Licensing Act. A correctly drafted and signed hiring agreement could give Trustees a degree of protection against this. In response to a Member’s request about responsibilities regarding the sale of alcohol, Ms Porter advised that if the bar was being run by representatives of the village hall committee and under the village hall’s license all responsibility for the sales of alcohol rested with the village hall committee. She suggested that village hall committees may consider requesting that the hirer take responsibility for the provision of the bar and apply for a temporary events notice to do so.
Members noted the difference between Holding Trustees and Management Trustees and the different responsibilities each group had.
The Chairman thanked Ms Porter for addressing the meeting and prompting an interesting discussion.
31. MARKET TOWN REVITALISATION PROGRAMME
The Chairman advised Members that Shropshire Council was providing £3 million for regeneration of the county’s market towns between 2010 and 2015. As part of the ‘The Larger Market Town Fund’ £2.5 million would be allocated to support the six largest market towns, which included Ludlow and Church Stretton. The remaining £500,000 would form the ‘Market Towns Capital Initiative fund’. The remaining eleven smaller market towns, which included Craven Arms, would be able to bid for funding for capital projects that would contribute to the regeneration of the towns.
Members also noted the ‘Rural Settlements Challenge Fund’ which would make a further £500,000 available to rural communities and was expected to be launched in April 2011 and would replace the existing Community Grants Scheme.
32. JOIN THE CONVERSATION
The Chairman reported to Members on the ‘Join the Conversation’ event held in Craven Arms on 16th September 2010. Representatives from the Fire Service, PCT and Police, as well as Council representatives had attended and listened to local people’s views about public services and how these should be provided in the increasing climate of economic pressure.
Members noted that Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) were replacing Advantage West Midlands. Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and Herefordshire Councils had submitted a joint
Contact Julie Fildes, tel 01584 838250 17 Craven Arms & Rural LJC 2/2/11 3 application for funding for area partnerships. Applications for funding had also been made to the Regional Development Agency.
33. PUBLICQUESTION
A member of the public asked a question regarding the provision of car parking in Craven Arms. This was discussed. The Chairman noted that there was to be a review of car parking across the county in the near future.
34. BUDGET FUNDING
The Support Officer introduced this report. She confirmed that 23rd December was the deadline for applications for the final round of funding for the financial year ending April 2011.
Craven Arms and District History Group: The Community Working Officer introduced this application, explaining that the group were planning to complete a register of ancient monuments in the area and to complete their historical records of the parish areas. Once completed the group intended to sell copies of the completed register to finance future projects. Although the project went beyond the geographical area of the LJC it would be of benefit to people living within the LJC area.
RESOLVED: that funding of £742 be granted to Craven Arms and District History Group to complete a register of ancient monuments and to complete their historical records of the parish areas encompassed by the group.
Councillor David Clark having expressed a personal and prejudicial in the next application interest left the room.
South Shropshire Engineering Ambassadors: Mike Weston and Richard Clements introduced this application. They explained that they were a group of predominantly retired engineers who gave their time to work with children in local primary schools on a range of engineering activities. They were requesting funding for materials which could not be supplied by the schools. Members saw a variety of articles produced by the children which demonstrated engineering principles. Members welcomed this application and commented on the importance of supporting youth projects which promoted education.
RESOLVED: that funding of £400 be granted to South Shropshire Engineering Ambassadors for the provision of materials to be used for projects undertaken in local schools.
Contact Julie Fildes, tel 01584 838250 18 Craven Arms & Rural LJC 2/2/11 3
Councillor Clark returned to the room. Councillor Neville Stephens having declared and personal and prejudicial interest left the room during the consideration of the next application.
Youthful Communities: Helen Vaughan, Regeneration Officer for the South Shropshire Housing Association (SSHA) introduced herself and this application. She explained that although she was employed by SSHA she was also responsible for the Charitable Trust which operated at arms length from the Housing Association.
The Youthful Communities Project was planned to take place over 3 years. Its aim was to provide meaningful activities for children aged between 11 and 18 years outside school hours. Funding from other sources had been applied for for wages and premises costs, these applications did not include the cost of providing activities.
RESOLVED: that funding of £1,000 be granted to Youthful Communities towards the cost of providing a mini summer training day and open kayaking session.
Councillor Stephens returned to the room.
Craven Arms Eid Festival: This application was introduced by Trish Morris of the Middle Marches Lion Group and Zakia Ahmed. They described how the event had been organised and funded by a group of Moslem women in Craven Arms the previous year and had been a great community success. They were requesting funding to assist them to stage it again but on a larger scale and with the support of the Middle Marches Lion Group.
RESOLVED: that funding of £775 be granted to the Middle Marches Lion Group towards the cost of the Craven Arms Eid Festival on 23rd October 2010.
Councillor Neville Stephens, having declared a personal and prejudicial interest left the room.
Homegrown: Helen Vaughan of the South Shropshire Housing Association also introduced this application. She explained that there were concerns about the number of young people leaving the county to find work. It was planned to hold an event on the 20th October 2010 at the Craven Arms Community Centre where local businesses and trades would demonstrate actives and raise awareness of the available careers choices in the area for young
Contact Julie Fildes, tel 01584 838250 19 Craven Arms & Rural LJC 2/2/11 3 people. The event would involve the four high schools in South Shropshire and each local joint committee in the area encompassed had been asked to provide a proportion of the funding.
In response to a Member’s query Ms Vaughan answered that it was intended that this would be a one off event and further events had not been planned. She accepted the importance of continuing the work.
RESOLVED: That funding of £400 be granted to Homegrown towards the cost of delivering an event to year 11 school pupils in South Shropshire.
35. DATEOFNEXTMEETING
RESOLVED:
that the next meeting of the Craven Arms and Rural LJC will be held at 7pm on Wednesday 2nd February at the Craven Committee Arms Community Centre. Officer
36. Chairman’s Announcement
The Chairman stated that she was sorry to announce that Community Regeneration Officer, Peter Dunhill was to undertake a new role in the North of the County and would no longer be the Community Regeneration Officer for the Craven Arms and Rural LJC. On behalf of the Committee she thanked Peter for all his hard work and wished him every success in his new role. These sentiments were echoed by Members and Officers.
The meeting ended at 9.10 pm.
CHAIRMAN…………………………………………
DATE………………………………………………..
Contact Julie Fildes, tel 01584 838250 20